Garry Joseph Kafton 1938 - 2017
UHL, KAFTON, GRELL, BENGE
Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/23/2017 at 20:27:12
Garry Kafton, age 79, of Westphalia, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at the Myrtue Medical Center of Harlan, Iowa.
A Funeral Service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, December 22, 2017, at the Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa. Pastor Jena Manchester will officiate; with Committal Services following in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery of Mapleton, Iowa. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Friday, December 22, 2017, at the Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa. The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
Garry Joseph Kafton, the son of Nels and Zelma (Uhl) Kafton, was born in rural Monona County near Danbury, Iowa, on November 6, 1938, along with his twin brother Larry. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Mapleton, Iowa.
Garry grew up in Mapleton, Iowa and attended Mapleton High School graduating with the class of 1956. After high school, Garry attended Iowa State University for a short time before returning home to help on the family farm. While living in the Mapleton area, Garry was united in marriage to Cora Grell. To this union two children were born: Kaja and John. The two later parted ways. On December 31, 1965, Garry married the love of his life, Linda Benge, in Dayton, Ohio. The two were blessed with two children: Kristine and Michael.
Garry followed his sister Carla to Anchorage, Alaska and began working for National Cash Register. This was the beginning of a 37 year long career as a service technician with NCR which allowed him to live in Alaska, New Mexico, and eventually return back to Iowa and reside in Westphalia, Iowa since 1978. Garry retired in 2000.
Garry will always be remembered as a true gentleman with an incredible sense of humor and the ability to get along with anyone. He loved to travel with Linda visiting family and friends. He and Linda also participated in a couples bowling league which allowed them to travel to tournaments from coast to coast. Garry ran in the Corporate Cup Run in Omaha, Nebraska for nearly a decade which helped contribute to his coffee cup collection. He served as an assistant Girl Scout leader in New Mexico as well as enjoyed being the flagman at car races in Alaska.
Left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of nearly 52 years Linda Kafton of Westphalia, IA; daughter Kaja (Julie) Shinn of San Antonio, TX, son John (Judi) Bates of Middleton, ID, daughter Kristine Schmitz of Harlan, IA, son Michael (Wanda) Kafton of Norfolk, VA; siblings Joan (Bruce) Utterback of Hemet, CA, Carla Fick of Battle Creek, IA, Kenneth (Peggy) Kafton of Mapleton, IA, David (Celine) Kafton of Castle Rock, CO; grandsons David (Jennifer) Schwery of Slater, IA, Matthew (Melissa) Schwery of Vass, NC, Zachary Schmitz of San Diego, CA, Luke Schmitz of Virginia Beach, VA; granddaughters Keaghan Shinn of San Antonio, TX, Emily Bates of Boise, ID, Alana Schmitz of Harlan, IA, Kiley Shinn of San Antonio, TX, Kelly Bates of Middleton, ID; great grandson Wyatt Schwery and step-great grandchildren JJ and Mariah Delgado of Vass, NC; sister-in-law Ann Brittian of Cookeville, TN.
Garry was preceded in death by his parents Nels and Zelma Kafton; twin brother Larry (Connie) Kafton; and his grandparents.
Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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